Yeah, sediment buildup can be a real headache—flushing only gets you so far, unfortunately. I went tankless about two years ago, and while it's been mostly great (endless hot showers are amazing...), the initial cost was no joke. Definitely factor in the gas line thing, but also double-check your electrical setup if you go electric tankless; some homes need panel upgrades too. Better to know upfront than get blindsided halfway through.
Tankless definitely has its perks, but I wonder about the long-term maintenance. A friend of mine installed one about three years ago—loved it at first, endless hot water and all—but recently mentioned something about needing regular descaling to keep it running efficiently. Apparently, mineral buildup can still happen, especially if your water's on the harder side. I've been considering tankless myself (eco-friendly options always catch my eye), but I'm curious how much upkeep is really involved. Anyone here had theirs long enough to weigh in on the maintenance side? I'd hate to swap one headache for another...
"Apparently, mineral buildup can still happen, especially if your water's on the harder side."
Yeah, that's definitely true from what I've seen. I've had my tankless for about five years now, and honestly, descaling isn't too bad—maybe once a year or so. Takes me about an hour with a vinegar flush kit. If your water's super hard, you could always add a water softener or inline filter to help. Personally, I'd say the benefits outweigh the maintenance hassle, but your mileage may vary...
Agree with the vinegar flush suggestion—it's pretty straightforward and does the trick for most setups. I've actually found that setting a yearly reminder on my phone helps me stay on top of it, because life gets busy and it's easy to forget until you start noticing issues.
One thing I'd add is to check the manufacturer's guidelines too. Some brands recommend specific descaling solutions instead of vinegar, especially if you're still under warranty. I learned this the hard way when my cousin had an issue with his warranty claim—they asked about maintenance, and he mentioned using vinegar instead of their recommended solution. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind.
Also, if you do decide to add a softener or inline filter, make sure it's installed upstream of the heater. Sounds obvious, I know, but you'd be surprised how many DIY installations I've seen where folks accidentally put the filter after the heater... defeats the purpose entirely.
